In Bakersfield, California, a significant achievement has been made in public safety, with the city recording its third consecutive year of declining gun violence. The reduction in gun-related incidents is attributed to the success of the California Violence Intervention Program (CalVIP), a targeted initiative focusing on individuals at high risk of being involved in gun violence.
In 2023, the city reported a 29% reduction in homicides compared to the previous year, marking a continued downward trend from 60 homicides in 2021 to 38 in 2022, and then to 27 in 2023. This success is partly credited to the Gun Violence Reduction Strategy, which combines state and local funding to facilitate direct, sustained intervention with those most likely to be involved in gun violence.
A significant portion of the funding comes from CalVIP, which contributed $4.5 million in the most recent fiscal year, supplemented by $1 million annually from Bakersfield’s Public Safety and Vital Services tax.
The city’s approach to gun violence emphasizes the need for community-based intervention programs, recognizing the complex roots of violence in historical oppression, poverty, and racism. The strategy involves resources like case management, employment, and therapy targeted at individuals at acute risk, rather than a broad public approach.